Between the stacks
Mom-n-Pop bookstores of Ventura County
Story and photos by Adam Nuñez
Bookshops are thriving in Ventura County. They are a full-immersion experience, and more than just books. Between the stacks, you might find art, board games, local handmade crafts, plants, and community announcement boards. And, of course, these shops exude that nostalgic, slightly woody, vanilla-like scent that wraps you like a warm blanket as soon as you walk through the doors.
As locally owned and operated shops, these are unique gathering spaces. But like most “mom and pop” shops across the country, business was tough for a while in Ventura County. The rise of online shopping and Covid definitely didn’t help things. However, success stories have risen from the rubble. Timbre Books, for example, opened in October 2020 which was only a few months after Covid shutdowns. Talk about a success story.
Five locally owned and operated bookshops are highlighted here:
The Open Book in Thousand Oaks, The Bookworm in Camarillo, plus Timbre Books, Calico Cat, and Smitten, which are all in Ventura.
First up is The Open Book. There are two locations in Ventura County, one in Thousand Oaks (TO) and the other in Simi Valley. The first shop opened in Simi back in 2006 by Michelle and Greg Schwabe. The TO location opened its doors in 2014. Each shop has its own personality and selection of books. Grace Aguilar manages the TO location. She has arranged a large space to feel homey, artsy, and eclectic while remaining superbly organized. Grace stocks the shelves with the core genres of classics, children’s literature, history, art, mythology, business, and more. The Open Book also has a large selection of American comic books and the very popular Manga (a.k.a. Japanese graphic novels). Among non-comic book shops, such a large selection of Manga is rare.
The Open Book also carries a huge selection of multimedia like DVDs and even video games. It’s fascinating that, right next to a crate of Xbox games, you’ll find a classic Bible Gallery book published in 1880 with illustrations by French artist Gustave Doré.
And all sorts of art line the walls. From antique sculptures, silverware, photographs, paintings, even post cards — there is a bit of everything. There is even a station to create your own art! The Open Book also hosts numerous book clubs, book signings, and a variety of classes. There are some unique ones such as film loading, which teaches people the artistic and technical skills of handling print photography film. There is a lot happening at The Open Book that’s keeping the community connected and engaged.
Find The Open Book at 556 W Hillcrest Dr, Thousand Oaks, and 2880-A Cochran St, Simi Valley, or online at theopenbook.net
Moving into Camarillo, The Bookworm first opened doors in 1973. Being one of the last independently operated bookshops in Camarillo, it is a foundational institution in the city. About a year and half ago, Jen Wilhite saw that The Bookworm was going to permanently close and felt she couldn’t just stand by. So, she bought it. She is the fifth woman owner of the shop since its opening more than 50 years ago. When asked what she thinks makes The Bookworm so special, she stresses its focus on the close-knit community. “It feels like I work in a bookstore on Sesame Street,” she said on one of my recent visits. She knows many customers by name, as well as the owners of the nearby businesses.
The Bookworm’s well-organized shelves, twinkle lights, and cozy reading nook gives visitors an immediate sense of peace. The book collection spans all sorts of fiction, non-fiction, and children’s literature. Jen works hard to keep the shelves up to date with contemporary books but also honors all by supplying the classics too. Not sure about what to read? The booksellers’ recommendation wall is helpful here, and they’re more than happy to chat books with any visitor. Being an integral part of the community, The Bookworm hosts monthly book clubs and author signings. Plus, they organize numerous events such as in March, when they partnered with the Camarillo Public Library to host an Open Mic Night with local author Drew Daywalt and son Reese. Teens and tweens were invited to share their talents in music, storytelling, poetry, and stand-up comedy in a space specifically for them. Keep a lookout for other events throughout the year.
Find The Bookworm at 93 E Daily Dr, Camarillo, and online at bookshop.org/shop/camarillobookworm
In Ventura’s Midtown area, we find Timbre Books. Opened in October 2020, it was a hard-fought campaign to open in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. But hard work paid off for owners Megan and Kyle Murai. Having no experience in the bookshop business, they were starting from scratch. But their efforts have definitely paid off.
Timbre screams cool with its sleek design, while still emanating warm and homey vibes. The shop contains the whole spectrum of literary genres under fiction, non-fiction, children’s, and young adult literature. However, Timbre specializes in books that keep the community thoughtfully engaged, with pressing issues of our times. You’ll find their Read the Room curated selection of books near the main entrance. These books “spark awareness and action” and “keep you connected to the moment” with books about topics such as immigration and the rise of artificial intelligence. A couple of tables, chairs, and even a cozy couch lay right next to a large window. This is an ideal place for visitors to watch, study, or obviously cuddle up with a book! There are even some ground pillows where parents can read a book with their children.
Find Timbre Books at 1910 E Main St, Ventura, and online at timbrebooks.com
On Ventura’s Main Street is Calico Cat. Peter Margenat and his wife bought the shop 40 years ago. It’s been in the same location for about 55 years, making it one of the oldest in Ventura County. Walking into Calico Cat is like stepping into a time capsule. You’ll feel like you’re treasure hunting. While there are newer books here, Calico Cat specializes in distinct genres and rare books. There are two full rows of books on the Civil War, two more on Westerns, plus U.S. Presidents, interior design, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, California Missions, and many other niche categories. There’s also a large selection of unique German and French literature that you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. There are even a few rows devoted entirely to first editions and collectables.
But honestly, it feels like more than half the shop could qualify as collectables! Peek behind the glass shelf and you’ll find some truly rare gems like a first edition John Steinbeck novel and a signed Robert Frost book of poetry.
Find Calico Cat Bookshop at 495 E Main St, Ventura, and online at calicocatbooks.com
Just about two blocks west of Calico Cat is the newest shop in town: Smitten. Since opening on Valentine’s Day in 2024, owner Mae Tingstrom has made this shop her labor of love. Smitten celebrates women and non-binary writers along with local artisans. The shelves are lined with an array of genres but specializes in romance. There is also a space for local writers to sell their own books. Smitten specializes in contemporary literature and sees mostly female customers; however, the shop is open to everyone!
Mae also has generously opened her shop for local artisans to sell crafts such as jewelry, pins, bookmarks, paintings, and even socks. Her passion for books and creating community is clearly evident from the many happenings around Smitten. There are writing clubs, craft clubs, journal clubs, and of course, book clubs. Additionally, there are author book signings, release parties, and classes on things like astrology and tarot readings. There is simply so much happening
at Smitten.
Find Smitten at 365 E Main St, Ventura, and online at smittenbookstore.com
A brief look at two other top-notch shops:
You can’t talk about Ventura County bookshops without mentioning Barts Books in Ojai. Opened in 1964, this shop is widely considered the largest outdoor bookshop in the world. It’s been featured in the Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Vogue, and even in the 2010 movie Easy A. It’s grown over the years and now contains around 130,000 books.
Find Barts Books at 302 W Matilija St, Ojai, and online at bartsbooksojai.com
Abednego Book Shoppe is another bookshop in Ventura. Owners Clarey and Debby Rudd have a life-long love of books. Clarey’s parents opened a shop way back in 1954 in Oxnard. Fast forward to 1974, Clarey opened his own shop, and in 1998 they moved to their current location on Main Street. Eclectic in nature, Abednego has a huge variety of books — some stretching as far back as the 1700s! This is a true Ventura institution and definitely worth a visit.
Find Abednego Books at 2682 E Main St, Ventura, and online at bankofbooks.com
The combined knowledge and entertainment contained in these shops covers just about every topic and genre imaginable. But these bookshops are going beyond that. They’re a true meeting space for everyone in the community, a melding place for ideas, inspiration, and connection. Take some time this season to slow down, relax, and check out one of these incredible locally owned bookshops.